REAL ESTATE FIRM ACCUSED OF BLOCKBUSTING TARGETS STONY PT

Naomi Streicher of Realty Teams Pomona has bombarded the Stony Point market the past few weeks with her trademark aggressive campaign encouraging homeowners to sell their properties.

Among her strategies is sending letters to local homeowners listing all properties recently sold in the town. Streicher plays the role of matchmaker of sorts, linking potential buyers with potential sellers.

While Streicher has defended her marketing methods and says Realty Teams “does things right,” critics have accused her team of using high pressure tactics similar to “blockbusting.” The term blockbusting refers to efforts to cause a flight of homeowners from an area, often leading to a drop in property value. A new group scoops up the cheaper real estate and establishes dominance in the area.

The term has come into use in Rockland County due to the success Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities have had in buying up and dominating entire neighborhoods. A prelude to such demographic changes typically include aggressive real estate practices, such as random persons knocking on doors and offering cash to homeowners.

While such cash offers and strategic targeting of communities have long been commonplace in Rockland, in 2016 Chestnut Ridge residents reported the offers were so persistent and the proprietors so aggressive that it had become more than a nuisance. Residents felt their quality of life deeply impacted by the tactics.

As a result laws were passed in some Rockland localities limiting the methods real estate propietors may use. No knock laws were passed and overall awareness raised.

As Streicher has made her presence felt in Stony Point the past few weeks, some residents have taken to social media to warn fellow town residents of possible blockbusting efforts commencing in Rockland’s smallest and northernmost town.

Streicher maintains her work is innocent, merely connecting buyers and sellers. Her critics say she is one of the most notorious blockbusters around.

She has maintained in the past that those who do not want to be contacted by her can simply reach out and let her know. Streicher’s office phone is 845-364-0007.

If you encounter Streicher tell the Rockland County Times how you feel about the experience. We can be reached at editor@rocklandcountytimes.com

Note– Following the publication of this article in the RCT print edition, two residents from Garnerville reported the agency in question had launched an aggressive sales push in their neighborhood.